Logo of the Danish Institute for Human Rights. Red rectangle with rounded corners and the Institute's name in white text.

Kenya

Danish Institute for human rights have consistently worked in Kenya since 2015, supporting the national human rights institution Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) on business and human rights, -in monitoring the enabling environment for defending human rights, and -in collecting and using human rights data. The Institute is also working with civil society organisation to support community justice and alternative justice systems.

Map of Kenya

What we do

Supporting the implementation of Kenya’s National Action Plan on business and human rights

We have played a key role in supporting our sister institution, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), as well as the Department of Justice in the development of Kenya’s first National Action Plan (NAP) on business and human rights, which was also the first of its kind in Africa and has since inspired other countries in the region to begin developing similar NAPs.

We are now working with multiple partners to support the implementation of the Kenyan NAP (2021-2025). This includes among other activities:

  • Working with KNCHR and the Department of Justice to disseminate the NAP and raise awareness on business and human rights amongst civil society, government and businesses
  • Working with the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) to building the capacity of their business members on responsible business practices and conducting human rights due diligence
  • Working with Advocates for International Development (A4ID) to develop an e-learning on human rights due diligence, aimed at in-house company lawyers and legal councils
  • Working with key public procurement authorities on integrating human rights considerations into public tenders
Cover of publication. Photo shows man carrying large net, another man in work clothing, wearing a helmet is sitting on truck

A review of the legal framework governing human rights and public procurement in Kenya

This report reviews the legal framework governing human rights and public procurement in Kenya.
An example on what we do in Kenya.
Front page of Kenya national action plan on business and human rights case study

The Kenya national action plan on business and human rights – a case study on process, lessons learned and ways forward

This report examines the process towards Kenya’s first national action plan on business and human rights.
An example on what we do in Kenya.

Supporting enhanced monitoring of the situation of human rights defenders in Kenya

We have supported the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) in monitoring the enabling environment for defending human rights in Kenya. This has included the following:

  • Working with KNCHR to collect data on the situation of human rights defenders in Kenya through the use of our Right to Defend Rights Tool
  • Supporting KNCHR’s outreach to human rights defender networks and state institutions to secure and validate the data
  • Facilitating the exchange of experience between KNCHR and other NHRIs collecting data on the situation of human rights defenders
  • Linking KNCHR with international processes on the collection of citizen-generated data

Supporting the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights to monitor the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights with a focus on marginalised groups

The Institute has worked with the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) on using human rights data to improve sustainable development planning and implementation in Kenya with a focus on groups left behind for several years. In February 2024, the Indigenous Livelihoods Enhancement Partners, the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, KNCHR, the National Gender and Equality Commission, the SDG Kenya Forum, the United Nations Statistical Division and DIHR met to discuss how to improve data on Indigenous Peoples in Kenya. The report from the meeting reflects on the exchange of partners related to the generation of official and community data on Indigenous Peoples. It also discusses a way forward with a roadmap to improve the availability and quality of data on Indigenous Peoples in Kenya through cooperation between state actors and Indigenous Peoples.

We are also currently working with KNCHR on analysing climate-change related policies and plans from a human rights perspective and documenting how climate change is affecting rights-holders in 5 different counties across Kenya. This analysis will inform KNCHR’s work on advancing human rights in the context of climate change and climate change measures in the years to come.

Supporting community justice and alternative justice systems 

The Institute is working with the civil society organisations Ripples International and the Citizen Participation Forum (CIPAF) to improve access to justice for rights-holders from poor and marginalised communities, particularly women and girls, in Meru and Baringo counties. The project supports the implementation of alternative justice systems that meet the needs of the local communities, effectively interact with and complement the formal justice mechanisms and deliver justice solutions that fully respect human rights.

Community justice being performed in Kenya
Projects

Community justice and alternative justice systems in Kenya

Through alternative justice systems this project seeks to improve access to justice for rights-holders from poor and marginalised communities, particularly women and girls in the two Kenyan counties Meru and Baringo.

Partners

UN recommendations

The United Nations monitors the human rights situation in all countries and experts and member states give recommendations to individual governments. Read the UN recommendations to Kenya here.